Brandon Lloyd elected to Pro Bowl

Douglas LeeDec 28, 2010 6:30 PM

The NFL has announced the 2011 Pro Bowl rosters, and the Broncos have but one representative - WR Brandon Lloyd. 2010 has been a breakout season for Lloyd, who has accumulated 72 catches for a league-leading 1,375 yards through 15 games. Lloyd's 19.1-yard average per reception trails only Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson and 60 Minutes' Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace, while his 10 TD receptions are tied for fifth-best in the NFL. Lloyd's 72 receptions have produced a remarkable 67 first downs, for a league-leading 93.1% rate. All of these numbers have far surpassed Lloyd's previous career highs.

Lloyd is an 8th-year player out of Illinois who has spent two seasons with Denver after stints with the 49ers, Redskins and Bears. With Lloyd's selection to the Pro Bowl, an incentive in his contract with Denver has been triggered - his salary will be bumped up to $1.4 million in 2011 from the $795,000 he was otherwise scheduled to make, according to RotoWorld.com.

Lloyd has filled the disastrous void left by the irreplaceable Brandon Marshall, who was traded to Miami for two second-round draft choices. Marshall has 81 catches for 917 yards but only 3 TD catches, and is making $9.5 million each in 2010 and 2011. To recap, that's $19 million for Marshall over two seasons and $2.655 million for Lloyd over the same two-year period, assuming Denver does not renegotiate the latter's deal.

Brandon's individual performance has been one of the true bright spots in our season, and his big-play capability and dynamic catches have excited our fans and players all year long. Working with Wide Receivers Coach Adam Gase, he is developing into one of the NFL's elite players at his position. The entire Denver Broncos organization is thrilled to see him get the recognition that he has earned this year.

Nine-time Pro Bowler Champ Bailey was a notable omission, although it is difficult to call this a "snub" as the AFC's representatives at CB are Jokeland's Nnamdi Asomugha, New Jersey's Darrelle Revis and the Pats' Devin McCourty.

Doug is IAOFM’s resident newsman and spelling czar. Follow him on Twitter @IAOFM

Congrats Brandon! I&#8217m very glad you&#8217re on our team and instead of that other Brandon guy.

While I&#8217m very happy that Lloyd didn&#8217t get completely snubbed, the fact that he isn&#8217t a starter is still a snub IMO. Which receiver in the AFC had a better year than Lloyd? Nobody. The only receiver in the NFL who&#8217s numbers across the board compare to Lloyd is Roddy White and he&#8217s in the NFC. After seeing each and every catch Lloyd made this season I wouldn&#8217t take any other receiver in the league over him right now. Snubbed I tell you.

Posted by c_style on 2010-12-29 18:30:58

Well, if non-starters are considered alternates, then no - the Broncos have none. Only three CBs are chosen.

Posted by Douglas Lee on 2010-12-29 12:07:53

By the way, a nice comment from Lloyd that reflects what McD did for him:

&#8220I was put in the right system and given the opportunities, and I was able to capitalize on it.&#8221

Nice. And it takes nothing away from the incredible catches we&#8217ve seen all year - what a great highlight film he&#8217ll have this year.

Posted by Doc Bear on 2010-12-29 10:11:59

Good question, Ted. If Champ didn&#8217t make it as an alternate, he was robbed.

Posted by Doc Bear on 2010-12-29 10:05:45

Why is it that every other beat reporter in the NFL has announced who its teams&#8217 alternates are, and with the Colts, Jim Irsay even did on Twitter, but the Broncos yokels haven&#8217t announced anything on that front? Are there none to speak of?

Posted by Ted Bartlett on 2010-12-29 03:01:22

It&#8217s great to see a guy who has been in the league for a long time find the game inside of himself and bring that to the field. His blocking has been stellar and his receiving was a constant delight to watch. He caught things that I haven&#8217t seen a receiver catch in a long time - he&#8217s completely earned this, and he&#8217s been another huge addition to the Broncos organization. Congratulations, Brandon - it&#8217s been a pleasure to watch you play.

Posted by Doc Bear on 2010-12-29 02:52:23

Say what you will about McDaniels. He took what we thought was a good QB and stable of receivers in 2008 and gave us nice guys who are more versatile and more talented at those positions. For every Cutler, there is a Tebow. For every Marshall, a Lloyd. For every Phonz, and Mays, Vickerson, or Hunter.

Posted by HarvJNep2n on 2010-12-29 01:08:45

Brandon Lloyd is the real beast this season.

Posted by TJ Johnson on 2010-12-29 01:06:03

I am very happy for Brandon Lloyd and there is no doubt in my mind that he deserves it. He is an acrobatic, big play receiver!

I am looking forward to some busted plays next year where Tebow scrambles out of trouble and Lloyd break his route off and goes long&#8230.....TOUCHDOWN!

Ok ok, I needed that to forget we are 4-11&#8230.sorry

Posted by Dennis Mitchell on 2010-12-29 00:40:28

I could easily see Champ as an alternate and get into the Pro Bowl with McCourty/Patriots going to the Super Bowl.

Congrats to B.Lloyd. He was a beast all year long and it&#8217s definitely well deserved.